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ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼»XXNQg #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XNQX»¼Ôà  àPetitioner€was€convicted€by€a€Davidson€County€jury€of€first€degree€murder€and€sentenced€toÐ ü#L# Ðlife€imprisonment.€€The€sole€issue€in€his€direct€appeal€to€this€court€was€sufficiency€of€the€evidence.€Ð è$8 $ ÐThis€court€found€the€evidence€sufficient€to€support€his€conviction€and€affirmed€the€judgment€of€theÐ Ô%$!% Ðtrial€court.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔRadleyÔ_Ôóó,€29€S.W.3d€532€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1999).€€Petitioner€timely€filed€aÐ À&"& Ðpetition€for€post„conviction€relief€which€was€denied€by€the€trial€court.€€This€appeal€followed.€€Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌÌà@¥¥(ìàò òFACTSó óˆÐ p*À%* ÐÌà  àWe€set€forth€the€following€facts€from€our€opinion€in€the€direct€appeal:€€Ð H,˜', ÐÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔÐ 4-„(-ýG ÐÔ_Ôà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAround€5:00€p.m.€on€October€22,€1996,€twenty„year€old€KeithÐ ° ÐLeatherwood€arrived€at€the€residence€of€his€cousin,€Chante€Jenkins,Ð œì Ðon€Grace€Street€in€Nashville.€€Ms.€Jenkins€and€Leatherwood€enteredÐ ˆØ Ðthe€residence€while€an€individual€name€Joe€Brown€remained€in€theÐ tÄ Ðvehicle.€€Leatherwood€and€Ms.€Jenkins€had€a€"close€relationship"€andÐ `° Ðit€was€not€uncommon€for€Leatherwood€to€routinely€visit€his€cousin.€Ð L œ ÐOn€this€occasion,€Leatherwood€informed€Ms.€Jenkins€that€he€hadÐ 8 ˆ Ðarranged€to€meet€"Hank,"€also€known€as€"Rabbit,"€across€the€streetÐ $ t Ðfrom€her€residence€near€the€park.€€Several€months€previous,Ð  ` ÐLeatherwood,€while€visiting€with€Ms.€Jenkins,€had€pointed€outÐ ü L  Ð"Rabbit,"€who€was€standing€across€the€street.€€Ðè 8 ` x` x ÐÌÔ#†XNQXXXNQ:#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAfter€several€minutes,€Leatherwood€left€the€residence€whileÐ À  ÐMs.€Jenkins€continued€to€watch€him€from€her€kitchen€window.Ð ¬ü  ÐAlthough€security€bars€were€attached€to€the€window,€she€testified€thatÐ ˜è  Ðher€view€was€unobstructed.€She€watched€Leatherwood€as€he€walkedÐ „Ô  Ðup€the€sidewalk€and€crossed€over€into€the€street€near€the€park€whereÐ pÀ Ðhe€was€joined€by€two€other€individuals.€Ms.€Jenkins€estimated€theÐ \¬ Ðdistance€between€her€vantage€point€and€the€men€as€a€distanceÐ H˜ Ðequivalent€to€the€corner€of€the€courtroom.€That€distance€was€laterÐ 4„ Ðdetermined€to€be€fifty€feet.€Ð p` x` x ÐÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿ®ÝÝ  Ý݃ ÿÿ®ÉÝŒÌŒÝ  ÝÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àLeatherwood€and€the€two€men€stood€together€for€a€fewÐ øH Ðseconds€and€then€Ms.€Jenkins€saw€Leatherwood,€whose€back€wasÐ ä4 Ðtoward€her,€turn€and€run.€As€he€began€to€run€in€the€direction€of€Ms.Ð Ð  ÐJenkins'€house,€one€of€the€men€pulled€out€a€dark€handgun€and€startedÐ ¼  Ðshooting.€Ms.€Jenkins€then€saw€Leatherwood€fall€to€the€ground€ontoÐ ¨ø Ðthe€sidewalk.€More€gunshots€were€heard.€She€estimated€the€totalÐ ”ä Ðnumber€of€gunshots€at€ten€or€more.€Ms.€Jenkins€ran€outside€and€thenÐ €Ð Ðwent€to€her€neighbor's€house€to€call€911.€Subsequently,€she€went€toÐ l¼ Ðher€grandmother's€house€to€inform€her€that€Leatherwood€had€beenÐ X ¨ Ðshot.€When€she€returned,€the€police€and€paramedics€had€arrived€onÐ D!” Ðthe€scene.€€Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  Ýà0  àÔSo#¿#lÔÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÔÝÝ  ÝÔ% ‡B ÔÔ%†B?Ô݃ ÿÿÔ ÝŒÐ (#(# ÐŒÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿ˜ÝÝ  ÝÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAt€the€police€station€just€hours€after€the€shooting,€Ms.€JenkinsÐ [$«" Ðtold€the€officers€that€the€victim€was€meeting€"Rabbit."€She€told€themÐ G%— # Ðthat€the€person€who€shot€her€cousin€was€wearing€a€black€hoodedÐ 3&ƒ!$ Ðsweatshirt€with€the€hood€pulled€over€his€head€and€black€pants.€Ms.Ð 'o"% ÐJenkins€identified€the€appellant€from€a€photographic€lineup€as€òòÓÓóótheÐ  ([#& Ðperson€who€shot€the€victim.€€Ô4‚DÝ &ÔÔ5  ÔÝ‚/ÿÝòòÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ6ñÔÝ‚CÍOÿÿÿÿƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý &ÔÓÓMs.€Jenkins€further€advised€the€officers,Ð ÷(G$' Ð"I've€seen€him€before,€I've€seen€his€face."€Moreover,€at€trial,€Ms.Ð ã)3%( Ðâ âJenkins€made€an€in„ÓÓcourt€identification€of€the€appellant,€testifying€thatÐ Ï*&) Ðshe€had€gotten€a€good€look€at€the€face€of€the€person€who€shot€herÐ ° Ðcousin.€€Ýƒ ÿÿ˜³ÝŒÐœì` x` x Ðâ âŒÝ  ÝÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿ{ÝÝ  Ý݃ ÿÿ{–ÝŒÌŒÝ  ÝÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àOn€cross„ÓÓexamination,€Ms.€Jenkins€stated€that€she€could€notÐ tÄ Ðidentify€the€person€accompanying€the€appellant.€Although€sheÐ `° Ðtestified€earlier€that€it€was€light€and€clear€around€5€p.m.,€she€admittedÐ L œ Ðthat€after€the€shooting€it€became€dark€and€rainy.€She€explained€that€itÐ 8 ˆ Ðwas€clear€enough€to€see€the€appellant.€Although€she€could€notÐ $ t Ðremember€any€facial€hair€or€describe€his€face,€she€was€certain€theÐ  ` Ðappellant€was€the€shooter.€She€admitted€that€it€was€only€a€matter€ofÐ ü L  Ðseconds€which€she€had€to€view€the€appellant€and€that€she€was€veryÐ è 8  Ðemotionally€disturbed;€however,€she€remained€confident€in€herÐ Ô$  Ðidentification€of€the€appellant.€€ÐÀ ` x` x ÐÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿk#ÝÝ  ÝÓÓ݃ ÿÿk#†#ÝŒÌŒÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àDamien€Huggins,€a€Metro€Police€officer,€responded€to€a€callÐ ˜è  Ðregarding€a€shooting€on€Grace€Street€within€two€to€three€minutes.€TheÐ „Ô  Ðofficer€stated€that€around€5€p.m.€that€it€was€still€daytime€and€the€rainÐ pÀ Ðwas€only€drizzling.€The€rain€became€harder€toward€the€end€of€theÐ \¬ Ðinvestigation.€The€police€preserved€the€scene€and€marked€the€locationÐ H˜ Ðof€four€.45€caliber€shell€casings€found€in€the€street.€Police€testimonyÐ 4„ Ðalso€revealed€that,€because€of€inclement€weather€which€included€rainÐ  p Ðand€strong€wind€gusts,€the€shell€casings€could€have€been€movedÐ  \ Ðbefore€their€arrival.€No€weapon€was€ever€recovered.€€ÐøH` x` x ÐÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿ('ÝÝ  Ý݃ ÿÿ('C'ÝŒÌŒÝ  ÝÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBruce€Levy,€medical€examiner€for€Davidson€County,€testifiedÐ Ð  Ðthat€the€autopsy€revealed€that€the€victim€sustained€multiple€gunshotÐ ¼  Ðwounds€to€the€chest,€abdomen,€back,€arms,€and€legs,€resulting€inÐ ¨ø Ðinternal€bleeding€and€injury€to€vital€organs.€The€medical€examinerÐ ”ä Ðstated€that€some€of€the€gunshot€wounds€were€superficial;€however,Ð €Ð Ðsince€the€victim€died€from€a€loss€of€blood,€each€wound€contributed€toÐ l¼ Ðhis€death.€The€victim€exhibited€no€traces€of€any€intoxicants€in€hisÐ X ¨ Ðsystem.€The€examiner€concluded€that€between€eight€and€twelveÐ D!” Ðbullets€struck€the€victim.€€Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÓÓÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿ»*ÝÝ  Ý݃ ÿÿ»*Ö*ÝŒÌŒÝ  ÝÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAs€the€sole€defense€witness,€Robert€Burford,€a€privateÐ $X" Ðinvestigator,€prepared€a€diagram€for€the€trial€indicating€certainÐ ô$D # Ðdistances€in€accordance€with€the€officers'€measurements€taken€fromÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€scene€and€from€the€testimony€of€Ms.€Jenkins.€Burford€measuredÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€distances€from€the€various€shell€casings€to€the€kitchen€windowÐ ¸'#& Ðwhere€Ms.€Jenkins€was€standing.€He€testified€that€the€distance€fromÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€first€shell€casing€to€the€window€was€118€feet;€the€second,€109Ð )à$( Ðâ âfeet;€the€third,€103€feet;€and€the€fourth,€67€feet.€Burford€explained,Ð |*Ì%) Ðthat€from€Jenkins€earlier€testimony,€that€he€had€measured€the€distanceÐ ° Ðto€the€corner€of€the€courtroom€at€only€50€feet.€€Ðœì` x` x Ðâ âÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAlso,€Burford€made€photographs€inside€the€house€from€theÐ tÄ Ðkitchen€window.€€Ð`°` x` x ÐÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿ}/ÝÝ  ÝÓÓ݃ ÿÿ}/˜/ÝŒÌŒÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPositioning€a€person€to€the€left€of€shell€casing€number€two,€heÐ 8 ˆ Ðconcluded€that€only€the€right€arm€and€shoulder€of€the€assailant€wereÐ $ t Ðvisible€from€the€window€and€not€the€face€of€the€individual€firing€theÐ  ` Ðgun.€He€stated€that€it€was€impossible€to€see€the€shooter€from€theÐ ü L  Ðvantage€point€of€the€kitchen€window€relative€to€the€other€shellÐ è 8  Ðcasings.€He€further€provided€that€the€street€sloped€in€a€west„ÓÓto„ÓÓeastÐ Ô$  Ðdirection.€On€cross„ÓÓexamination,€he€testified€that€all€of€hisÐ À  Ðphotographs€were€taken€from€a€stationary€vantage€point€at€theÐ ¬ü  Ðwindow€without€any€movement.€€Ð˜è ` x` x ÐÌòòRadleyóó,€29€S.W.3d€at€533„34.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌÓÓÌÓÓà@;;ìàò òPOST„CONVICTION€HEARINGó óˆÐ  p ÐÌà  àPetitioner€testified€at€the€post„conviction€hearing€that€he€did€not€commit€the€homicide,€butÐ øH Ðrather€was€at€a€totally€different€location,€Park€Place€Motors,€at€the€time€the€homicide€was€committed,Ð ä4 Ðwhich€was€around€5:00€p.m.€on€October€22,€1996.€€He€contended€that€Angelia€Cowan,€a€person€whoÐ Ð  Ðwas€"like€an€aunt"€to€him,€could€verify€his€presence€there€because€he€called€her€from€that€location.€Ð ¼  ÐHe€further€testified€that€the€owner€of€Park€Place€Motors,€David€Todd,€could€also€verify€his€presenceÐ ¨ø Ðthere.€€Petitioner€testified€he€was€purchasing€a€Mercedes€at€that€time€at€Park€Place€Motors,€paidÐ ”ä Ð$15,000€down€in€cash,€and€had€the€car€titled€in€Cowan's€name€as€he€had€done€on€three€priorÐ €Ð Ðoccasions€at€different€dealerships€when€he€purchased€a€Lexis€and€two€Cadillacs.€€Ô#†XNQXXXNQq#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔOn€cross„Ð l¼ Ðexamination,€petitioner€conceded€that€he€was€aware€that€cash€transactions€over€$10,000€were€to€beÐ X ¨ Ðreported,€and€that€Todd€was€titling€the€Mercedes€in€Cowan's€name€to€conceal€petitioner's€$15,000Ð D!” Ðcash€payment.€€He€further€testified€that€he€informed€his€attorney€of€these€two€alibi€witnesses,€butÐ 0"€  Ðcounsel€ineffectively€chose€not€to€present€them€at€trial.€€Petitioner€testified€that€trial€counsel€did€notÐ #l! Ðdiscuss€trial€strategy€prior€to€his€trial€by€jury€and€rarely€met€with€the€petitioner€to€discuss€the€case.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àAngelia€Cowan€testified€this€was€the€fourth€occasion€in€which€she€had€assisted€the€petitionerÐ à%0!$ Ðin€purchasing€vehicles€by€allowing€the€vehicle€to€be€titled€in€her€name.€€She€conceded€the€petitionerÐ Ì&"% Ðpaid€her€for€her€accommodations,€but€she€"[did€not]€have€any€idea€what€he€paid€[her]."€€CowanÐ ¸'#& Ðtestified€that€she€spoke€with€both€the€petitioner€and€Todd€on€her€celluar€phone€about€5:30€p.m.€€AÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcopy€of€her€cellular€phone€record,€reflecting€an€incoming€call€at€approximately€5:30€p.m.,Ô#†XNQXXXNQ‘7#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔ€wasÐ )à$( Ðintroduced€into€evidence.€€She€gave€this€phone€record€€to€trial€counsel;€however,€trial€counsel€didÐ |*Ì%) Ðnot€call€her€as€a€witness€at€trial.€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  à€Cowan€denied€that€she€knew€she€was€participating€in€illegal€transactions€with€regard€to€theÐ ° Ðcar€purchases.€€She€further€stated€her€conversation€with€the€petitioner€originated€with€her€call€to€theÐ œì Ðdealership;€"[i]t€wasn't€about€the€car;"€and€"[i]t€just€so€happened€that€he€was€at€the€car€dealership."€Ð ˆØ ÐCowan€testified€that€after€this€transaction,€she€began€seeing€Todd€on€a€romantic€basis.€Ô#†XNQXXXNQŽ<#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àRobert€Todd€testified€that€he€met€the€petitioner€for€the€first€time€when€he€came€to€theÐ L œ Ðdealership€on€the€date€of€the€homicide.€€He€stated€the€petitioner€called€him€at€approximately€4:45Ð 8 ˆ Ðp.m.€on€this€date€and€appeared€at€the€dealership€at€approximately€5:00€p.m.€€He€testified€that€bothÐ $ t Ðhe€and€the€petitioner€had€multiple€conversations€with€Cowan€over€a€period€of€fifteen€to€thirtyÐ  ` Ðminutes€concerning€the€car€being€titled€in€her€name,€and€he€secured€detailed€information€fromÐ ü L  ÐCowan€"line€by€line€on€the€[credit]€application."€€He€stated€the€petitioner€left€the€dealership€atÐ è 8  Ðapproximately€5:45€p.m.€€He€provided€this€information€to€trial€counsel's€investigator€but€was€notÐ Ô$  Ðcalled€as€a€witness€at€the€trial.€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àTodd€€stated€that€he€did€not€know€the€petitioner€nor€Cowan€prior€to€that€time.€€He€concededÐ ˜è  Ðhe€paid€$25,000€for€petitioner's€bond€at€Cowan's€requestÔ#†XNQXXXNQj?#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔ€at€some€time€after€petitioner's€arrest.Ô#†XNQXXXNQèC#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔ€€HeÐ „Ô  Ðfurther€acknowledged€a€prior€conviction€for€tax€evasion.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àCharles€Scott,€a€private€investigator€retained€by€trial€counsel,€testified€he€conducted€aÐ H˜ Ðthorough€fact€investigation.€€He€was€aware€that€both€Cowan€and€Todd€contended€petitioner€was€atÐ 4„ Ðthe€dealership€at€the€time€the€homicide€was€committed.€€He€estimated€that€the€dealership€wasÐ  p Ðapproximately€twelve€to€fifteen€miles€from€the€scene€of€the€homicide.€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àTrial€counsel€was€a€veteran€criminal€defense€attorney€with€extensive€experience€in€murderÐ ä4 Ðtrials,€including€capital€cases.€€He€testified€that€he€had€represented€the€petitioner€in€a€number€of€priorÐ Ð  Ðcases€and€had€a€good€relationship€with€the€petitioner€and€his€family.€€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àTrial€counsel€testified€that€he€conferred€with€the€petitioner€on€numerous€occasions€andÐ ”ä Ðthoroughly€discussed€trial€strategy.€€He€was€aware€that€Cowan€and€Todd€were€potential€alibiÐ €Ð Ðwitnesses€but€considered€their€testimony€weak.€€He€believed€the€best€trial€strategy€was€to€concentrateÐ l¼ Ðon€the€weakness€of€the€state's€eyewitness€identification€rather€than€subject€these€two€questionableÐ X ¨ Ðalibi€witnesses€to€cross„examination.€€More€specifically,€trial€counsel€believed€the€testimony€ofÐ D!” ÐCowan€and€Todd€would€convey€to€the€jury€that€they€and€the€petitioner€were€involved€in€a€moneyÐ 0"€  Ðlaundering€scheme,€which€would€portray€the€petitioner€as€a€gangster€or€drug€dealer.€€Both€wereÐ #l! Ðobviously€interested€witnesses,€and€counsel€was€further€aware€that,€at€some€time€prior€to€trial,€ToddÐ $X" Ðhad€been€arrested€by€the€federal€authorities€for€money€laundering.€€Counsel€reviewed€the€telephoneÐ ô$D # Ðrecord€and€did€not€consider€it€conclusive.€€He€discussed€the€two€potential€alibi€witnesses€with€theÐ à%0!$ Ðpetitioner€and€told€petitioner€he€did€not€believe€they€should€be€called€as€witnesses.€€Petitioner€trustedÐ Ì&"% Ðcounsel's€judgment€on€this€issue.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌÌÌÐ h+¸&* Ðà@[ [ ìàò òPOST„CONVICTION€COURT'S€FINDINGSó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àJudge€Cheryl€Blackburn,€the€post„conviction€judge,€issued€a€detailed,€fourteen„page€orderÐ ˆØ Ðwith€extensive€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€post„conviction€court€concluded,€òòinterÐ tÄ Ðaliaóó,€that€trial€counsel's€decision€not€to€utilize€the€potential€alibi€witnesses€was€a€reasonable€tacticalÐ `° Ðdecision;€petitioner€did€not€establish€a€reasonable€probability€that€their€testimony€would€have€madeÐ L œ Ða€difference€at€trial;€trial€counsel€thoroughly€conferred€with€petitioner€regarding€trial€strategy;€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðtrial€counsel€fully€investigated€the€background€of€the€victim€and€the€eyewitness.€€In€summary,€theÐ $ t Ðtrial€court€concluded€petitioner€failed€to€show€any€deficiencies€by€trial€counsel€and€further€failed€toÐ  ` Ðestablish€prejudice€as€a€result€of€trial€counsel's€representation.€€Ð ü L  ÐÌÌà@dd!ìàò òSTANDARD€OF€REVIEWó óˆÐ À  ÐÌÔ#†XNQXXXNQRD#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔà  àWhen€a€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€is€made€under€the€Sixth€Amendment,€theÐ ˜è  Ðburden€is€upon€the€complaining€party€to€show€(1)€that€counsel's€performance€was€deficient,€and€(2)Ð „Ô  Ðthe€deficiency€was€prejudicial€in€terms€of€rendering€a€reasonable€probability€that€the€result€of€the€trialÐ pÀ Ðwas€unreliable€or€the€proceedings€fundamentally€unfair.€€òòSeeóó€òòStrickland€v.€Washingtonóó,€466€U.S.Ð \¬ Ð668,€687,€104€S.€Ct.€2052,€2064,€80€L.€Ed.€2d€674€(1984)òòóóòòóó.€€Our€supreme€court€has€applied€theÐ H˜ ÐòòStricklandóó€standard€to€the€right€to€counsel€under€Article€I,€Section€9€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution.€Ð 4„ ÐòòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Melsonóó,€772€S.W.2d€417,€419€n.€2€(Tenn.€1989).€€Ð  p ÐÌà  àIn€òòBaxter€v.€Roseóó,€523€S.W.2d€930,€936€(Tenn.€1975),€our€supreme€court€required€that€theÐ øH Ðservices€be€rendered€within€the€range€of€competence€demanded€of€attorneys€in€criminal€cases.€Ð ä4 ÐFurther,€the€court€stated€that€the€range€of€competence€was€to€be€measured€by€the€duties€and€criteriaÐ Ð  Ðset€forth€in€òòBeasley€v.€United€Statesóó,€491€F.2d€687€(6th€Cir.€1974),€and€òòUnited€States€v.€DeCosteróó,Ð ¼  Ð487€F.2d€1197€(D.C.€Cir.€1973).€€€€In€reviewing€counsel's€conduct,€a€ð ðfair€assessment€of€attorneyÐ ¨ø Ðperformance€requires€that€every€effort€be€made€to€eliminate€the€distorting€effects€of€hindsight,€toÐ ”ä Ðreconstruct€the€circumstances€of€counsel's€challenged€conduct,€and€to€evaluate€the€conduct€fromÐ €Ð Ðcounsel's€perspective€at€the€time.ðð€€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€689,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2065;€sòòeeóó€òòHellard€v.Ð l¼ ÐStateóó,€629€S.W.2d€4,€9€(Tenn.€1982).€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àIt€is€unnecessary€for€a€court€to€address€deficiency€and€prejudice€in€any€particular€order,€orÐ 0"€  Ðeven€to€address€both€if€the€petitioner€makes€an€insufficient€showing€on€either.€€òòóóòòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.Ð #l! Ðat€697,€104€S.€Ct.€at€2069.€€In€order€to€establish€prejudice,€the€petitioner€must€establish€a€"reasonableÐ $X" Ðprobability€that,€but€for€counsel's€unprofessional€errors,€the€result€of€the€proceeding€would€have€beenÐ ô$D # Ðdifferent.€€A€reasonable€probability€is€a€probability€sufficient€to€undermine€confidence€in€theÐ à%0!$ Ðoutcome.ðð€€òòState€v.€Burnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€453,€463€(quotingòòóó€òòStricklandóó,€466€U.S.€at€694,€104€S.Ct.€atÐ Ì&"% Ð2068)€(citations€omitted).€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àThe€petitioner€bears€the€burden€of€proving€the€factual€allegations€that€would€entitle€petitionerÐ )à$( Ðto€relief€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€òòòòóóóóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40-30-210(f).€€We€review€the€post„Ð |*Ì%) Ðconviction€court's€factual€findings€underlying€a€claim€of€ineffective€assistance€of€counsel€under€a€òòdeÐ h+¸&* Ðnovoóó€standard€with€a€presumption€that€those€findings€are€correct€ð!ð€unless€the€preponderance€of€theÐ ° Ðevidence€establishes€otherwise.€€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€461.€€However,€the€post„conviction€court'sÐ œì Ðconclusions€of€law€ð!ð€€such€as€whether€counsel's€performance€was€deficient€or€whether€that€deficiencyÐ ˆØ Ðwas€prejudicial€ð!ð€€are€reviewed€under€a€òòde€novoóó€standard€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòóóòòFieldsÐ tÄ Ðv.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€457€(Tenn.€2001)€(citations€omitted)òòóóòòóó.€€Ð `° ÐÔ#†XNQXXXNQÂQ#ÔÔ‡XNQXXXNQÔÌÌà@òò&ìàò òANALYSISó óˆÐ $ t ÐÌà  àPetitioner€contends€trial€counsel€was€ineffective€in€the€following€particulars:€(1)€failing€toÐ ü L  Ðpresent€alibi€testimony;€(2)€unilaterally€determining€not€to€present€an€alibi€defense;€(3)€failing€toÐ è 8  Ðadequately€consult€with€the€petitioner;€and€(4)€failing€to€investigate€the€victim's€and€the€eyewitness'sÐ Ô$  Ðbackground.€€We€disagree€with€the€petitioner€in€all€respects.€€Ð À  ÐÌò òA.€€Alibi€Defenseó óÐ ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€record€reflects€that€trial€counsel€thoroughly€investigated€the€alibi€defense,€considered€itÐ pÀ Ða€weak€defense,€and€advised€the€petitioner€against€using€the€two€witnesses.€€The€credibility€of€bothÐ \¬ Ðwitnesses€was€highly€suspect;€it€was€apparent€to€counsel€that€both€witnesses€and€the€petitioner€wereÐ H˜ Ðinvolved€in€a€money€laundering€operation.€€By€utilizing€these€two€witnesses,€the€jury€would€be€awareÐ 4„ Ðof€this€and€associate€the€petitioner€with€money€laundering€and,€perhaps,€drug€dealing.€€By€not€usingÐ  p Ðthese€two€witnesses,€the€jury€would€be€unaware€of€such€prejudicial€evidence.€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àThe€cellular€phone€record€of€Angelia€Cowan€is€far€from€determinative.€€Firstly,€we€note€theÐ ä4 Ðonly€phone€record€introduced€at€the€hearing€was€that€of€Cowan's,€who€was€not€at€the€dealership.€Ð Ð  ÐNeither€the€phone€record€from€the€dealership€nor€the€cellular€phone€record€of€the€petitioner,€if€indeedÐ ¼  Ðhe€had€a€cellular€phone,€was€introduced.€€The€phone€record€does€not€establish€the€names€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðpersons€she€called€nor€the€names€of€the€persons€who€called€her,€although€the€phone€numbers€areÐ ”ä Ðreflected€on€the€phone€record.€€There€was€no€testimony€as€to€petitioner's€cellular€phone€number€orÐ €Ð Ðwhether€he€even€had€a€cellular€phone.€€There€was€no€testimony€as€to€the€dealership's€phone€number.€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àFurthermore,€Cowan€only€had€one€incoming€call€about€5:30€p.m.,€and€the€document€does€notÐ D!” Ðestablish€who€made€this€call.€€In€fact,€this€line€on€the€phone€record€was€blackened€out,€making€itÐ 0"€  Ðillegible€in€some€respects.€€There€are€outgoing€calls€from€Cowan's€phone€at€approximately€5:30€p.m.Ð #l! Ðto€at€least€two€different€numbers,€again,€the€identity€and€location€of€the€persons€called€beingÐ $X" Ðunknown.€€Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àIf€this€incoming€call€was€from€the€dealership,€the€phone€number€appears€to€be€the€sameÐ Ì&"% Ðnumber€from€which€Cowan€received€numerous€calls€earlier€that€day€and€at€various€hours€on€the€twoÐ ¸'#& Ðpreceding€days.€€This€would€be€inconsistent€with€Todd's€testimony€that€he€did€not€know€Cowan€priorÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€this€transaction.€€We€also€note€Cowan's€testimony€that€she€initiated€the€call€to€the€dealership€forÐ )à$( Ðâ âreasons€unrelated€to€this€transaction,€and€"[i]t€just€so€happened€that€[petitioner]€was€at€the€carÐ |*Ì%) Ðdealership."€€Furthermore,€of€the€four€conversations€reflected€on€Cowan's€phone€record€between€5:27Ð ° Ðp.m.€and€approximately€5:30€p.m.,€three€different€phone€numbers€were€involved.€€Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àAs€to€the€possibility€that€the€incoming€call€was€from€the€petitioner's€cellular€phone,€theÐ tÄ Ðrecord,€as€previously€stated,€does€not€establish€whether€or€not€he€had€a€cellular€phone€or,€if€so,€whatÐ `° Ðhis€number€was.€€Furthermore,€although€it€is€hard€to€decipher,€the€phone€record€of€the€incoming€callÐ L œ Ðappears€to€reflect€a€nine„minute€conversation,€and€the€other€four€outgoing€calls€from€5:27€p.m.€toÐ 8 ˆ Ð5:39€p.m.€were€each€one€minute€or€less.€€This€is€inconsistent€with€Todd's€testimony€that€theÐ $ t Ðconversations€lasted€from€fifteen€to€thirty€minutes.€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àMore€importantly,€the€documentary€evidence€does€not€establish€whether€or€not€the€petitionerÐ è 8  Ðwas€actually€at€the€dealership€if€indeed€he€did€talk€with€Cowan.€€The€establishment€of€this€fact€wouldÐ Ô$  Ðdepend€totally€upon€the€credibility€of€Todd.Ð À  ÐÌà  àIn€short,€trial€counsel€thoroughly€investigated€and€considered€the€potential€alibi€defense.€€TheÐ ˜è  Ðalibi€testimony€was€extremely€suspect€and€would€interject€otherwise€inadmissible,€highly€prejudicialÐ „Ô  Ðevidence€into€the€trial.€€We€are€certainly€unable€to€find€trial€counsel's€decision€not€to€use€suchÐ pÀ Ðtestimony€deficient€performance.€€In€fact,€had€such€evidence€been€introduced€and€petitionerÐ \¬ Ðconvicted,€a€much€more€plausible€argument€could€be€made€that€such€would€constitute€ineffectiveÐ H˜ Ðassistance€of€counsel.€€In€addition,€the€post„conviction€judge,€after€hearing€the€testimony€of€the€twoÐ 4„ Ðwitnesses,€concluded€petitioner€òòfailedóó€to€establish€"by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that,€had€trialÐ  p Ðcounsel€called€Angelia€Cowan€and€David€Todd€to€testify€on€his€behalf,€there€was€a€reasonableÐ  \ Ðprobability€that€the€jury€would€have€had€a€reasonable€doubt€regarding€petitioner's€guilt."€€TheÐ øH Ðevidence€does€not€preponderate€against€this€credibility€determination€by€the€post„conviction€court.€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àThe€petitioner€contends€trial€counsel's€decision€not€to€present€the€alibi€defense€invaded€theÐ ¼  Ðprovince€of€the€jury.€€We€must€disagree.€€Certainly,€questions€of€witness€credibility€in€a€trial€areÐ ¨ø Ðdetermined€by€the€jury€as€the€trier€of€fact.€òò€Seeóó€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832,€835€(Tenn.€1978).€Ð ”ä ÐHowever,€this€is€not€to€suggest€that€trial€counsel€should€present€any€and€all€witnesses€simply€becauseÐ €Ð Ðthey€will€testify€in€favor€of€a€defendant.€€Trial€counsel€has€an€obligation€to€advise€a€defendantÐ l¼ Ðwhether€counsel€believes€a€certain€witness's€testimony€will€be€viewed€as€credible€by€a€jury.€€TrialÐ X ¨ Ðcounsel€did€not€invade€the€province€of€the€jury€by€advising€petitioner€as€to€the€disadvantages€ofÐ D!” Ðcalling€the€two€potential€alibi€witnesses€and€failing€to€call€them€as€witnesses.Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àIn€summary,€the€post„conviction€court's€finding€that€trial€counsel's€determination€not€to€utilizeÐ $X" Ðthe€alibi€defense€was€reasonable€is€clearly€supported€by€the€record.€€We€may€not€second„guess€thisÐ ô$D # Ðreasonable€trial€strategy;€it€was€an€informed€one€based€upon€adequate€preparation€and€investigation.€Ð à%0!$ ÐòòSeeóó€òòHenley€v.€Stateóó,€960€S.W.2d€572,€579€(Tenn.€1997).€€Furthermore,€we€agree€with€the€trial€court'sÐ Ì&"% Ðdetermination€that€petitioner€has€failed€to€establish€a€reasonable€probability€that€the€alibi€defenseÐ ¸'#& Ðwould€have€affected€the€outcome€of€the€trial.€€òòSeeóó€òòBurnsóó,€6€S.W.3d€at€463.€€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌò òÌÐ h+¸&* ÐB.€€Unilateral€Determination€Not€to€Present€Alibi€Defenseó óÐ ° ÐÌà  àPetitioner€contends€trial€counsel€was€blatantly€deficient€in€unilaterally€deciding€not€to€presentÐ ˆØ Ðan€alibi€defense€without€proper€consultation€with€the€petitioner.€€The€post„conviction€courtÐ tÄ Ðaccredited€the€testimony€of€trial€counsel€indicating€he€discussed€the€advantages€and€disadvantagesÐ `° Ðof€the€alibi€defense€with€the€petitioner;€€this€was€not€a€unilateral€determination.€€The€evidence€doesÐ L œ Ðnot€preponderate€against€the€finding€of€the€post„conviction€court.€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌò òC.€€Consultation€with€the€Petitioneró óÐ  ` ÐÌà  àPetitioner€contends€trial€counsel€failed€to€adequately€consult€with€petitioner€prior€to€trial.€Ð è 8  ÐThe€trial€court€concluded€otherwise;€the€record€indicates€trial€counsel€thoroughly€discussed€the€caseÐ Ô$  Ðwith€petitioner€on€numerous€occasions€prior€to€trial.€€The€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€thisÐ À  Ðfinding€of€the€post„conviction€court.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌò òD.€€Investigation€of€Other€Issuesó óÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àFinally,€petitioner€contends€trial€counsel€failed€to€investigate€the€background€of€the€victim,Ð \¬ Ðwhich€might€establish€"theories€for€whom€might€have€had€a€motive€to€kill€[the€victim],"€or€theÐ H˜ Ðeyewitness's€background.€€The€testimony€indicated€that€trial€counsel€and/or€his€investigatorÐ 4„ Ðthoroughly€investigated€all€aspects€of€this€case.€€The€record€specifically€reveals€trial€counsel'sÐ  p Ðinvestigator€indeed€investigated€the€background€of€the€victim€as€well€as€the€background€of€theÐ  \ Ðeyewitness.€€His€investigation€did€not€reveal€anything€that€would€be€beneficial€at€trial.€€The€evidenceÐ øH Ðdoes€not€preponderate€against€the€trial€court's€finding€that€the€investigation€of€these€two€persons€wasÐ ä4 Ðnot€deficient.€€Furthermore,€petitioner€presented€no€evidence€at€the€hearing€concerning€the€victim'sÐ Ð  Ðor€the€eyewitness's€background€that€would€have€an€effect€on€the€outcome€of€the€trial.€€Ð ¼  ÐÌÌà@FF%ìàò òCONCLUSIONó óˆÐ €Ð ÐÌà  àWe€agree€with€the€post„conviction€court's€determination€that€petitioner€has€failed€to€establishÐ X ¨ Ðineffective€assistance€of€counsel.€€Specifically,€he€has€failed€to€establish€that€trial€counsel'sÐ D!” Ðperformance€was€deficient€and€has€further€failed€to€establish€a€reasonable€probability€that€the€resultÐ 0"€  Ðof€the€trial€was€unreliable€because€of€the€actions€of€trial€counsel.€€Accordingly,€we€affirm€theÐ #l! Ðjudgment€of€the€post„conviction€court.€€Ð $X" ÐÌÌÌÌÓÓÔ#†XNQXXXNQ`#Ôà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOE€G.€RILEY,€JUDGE